POLICE are lining the streets as thousands descend on the capital for a pro-Palestine march – with cops arresting a man over a “Nazi symbol”.
Demonstrators took to the streets of the capital for the seventh weekend in a row to call for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza.
Andrew StyczynskiThousands of pro-Palestine protesters are marching through London[/caption]
Andrew StyczynskiThe protesters want a permanent immediate ceasefire in Gaza[/caption]
Andrew StyczynskiMet Police officers speaking to protesters[/caption]
AFPCops are lining the streets of the capital[/caption]
Twitter/Metropolitan PoliceA man has been arrested after allegedly displaying a placard with Nazi symbols[/caption]
AFPA sea of Palestinian flags near Parliament[/caption]
The march set off from Hyde Park in west London at around 12.30pm.
Thousands of demonstrators carrying Palestinian flags and placards started walking down Park Lane from Marble Arch towards Piccadilly.
Snaps showed protesters holding Palestinian flags and placards reading “Free Palestine” and “Gaza – Stop the Massacre”.
The Met Police has already confirmed it has arrested a man on suspicion of inciting racial hatred near the start of the protest.
Officers spotted him allegedly carrying a placard with Nazi symbols on it.
Around 1,500 cops have been deployed for the march, with the Metropolitan Police handing out leaflets telling demonstrators what will be considered a criminal offence.
The leaflets read: “The law protects the right to lawful protests, and the Met Police supports your right to legally make your voice heard.
“However, the law also protects people from racist abuse and from terrorism being promoted.
“Whilst the majority of people are complying with these rules, a minority have crossed the line.”
It comes after the first hostages were freed in a four-day ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.
Under the agreement, a total of 50 Israeli hostages will be freed in exchange for 150 Palestinians imprisoned in Israel.
Thirteen Israeli women and children held in captivity by the militant group in Gaza were released on Friday evening.
Meanwhile, 39 Palestinians were released from Israeli prisons.
Palestinian civilians have been left fleeing for their lives as Israel attempts to destroy Hamas after the terror group massacred 1,200 civilians on October 7.
Families living in Gaza have been caught in the brutal crossfire, with regular accusations that the terrorists are attempting to use them as “human shields”.
Much of the northern part of the strip has been turned into a devastated warzone – with ruined buildings, dwindling supplies and horrific suffering for Gaza’s people.
The Red Cross estimates that some 1.5million civilians have been forced to flee south amid the Israeli onslaught from land, air and sea.
Figures for the death toll remain unverified – but Hamas’ health officials claim more than 14,000 civilians, including more than 4,500 children have been killed.
Israel disputes these figures – and US President Joe Biden said he had “no confidence” in them.
But Benjamin Netanyahu admitted Israel has “not been successful” in reducing civilian casualties.
He said the deaths must be blamed on Hamas – not Israel.
And as the horror continues there have been growing calls for a permanent humanitarian ceasefire to stop the bloodshed.
Published: [#item_custom_pubDate]
